The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“You said it yourself. What could Uncle possibly do with that worthless, pathetic painting?”

“S-Sister…”

“The painting you threw away today was put up at auction with a price tag of 100 million. What do you think about that?”

“B-But it went unsold, didn’t it? That painting isn’t worth selling, so there shouldn’t be any problem…”

“Do you think Uncle Michele’s goal is to make money by selling that painting?”

Rosaline said coldly.

“Why would he put up a painting that won’t sell, as you said, at auction? That must be a signal.”

“A signal?”

“Selling ‘The Forest of Cologne’ for 100 million gold is itself a signal to someone!”

Otherwise, there’s no way he would put up such a ridiculous painting at that price.

“It’s a kind of code that gets completed when an accomplice who receives that signal buys the painting.”

Uncle would be more than capable of doing such a thing.

Rosaline ground her teeth as she thought of Michele.

“But even if they’re an accomplice, what money would they use to readily buy a painting worth 100 million gold?”

“You know one thing but not two. If that accomplice’s job is to secure the fortune Uncle has hidden away, it’s entirely possible.”

Hugo gasped and covered his mouth.

“Then the reason he specifically took that painting from me!”

“That’s right. There must be something hidden in the painting. …Wait. Isn’t it a painting of the coniferous forest in the northwest?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Perhaps… he might have painted the location where he buried his fortune.”

Hugo’s eyes widened and then rolled around dizzily.

“I had no idea it was such an important painting! But Philosophie Auction House has top-level security. We can’t steal the painting or buy it back easily, so what should we do?”

“Haah… Hugo, did you momentarily forget what I make money from?”

“S-Sister! You don’t mean!”

“That’s right. I have it.”

Rosaline’s main source of income.

It was replica paintings.

“I have a replica of ‘The Forest of Cologne’!”

Rosaline’s eyes flashed.

Hugo rubbed his arms that had broken out in goosebumps and glanced around nervously. Even though she was his sister, she was truly frightening at times like this.

Though not as much as Uncle.

“Uncle is being quite troublesome and bothersome. He won’t come to the forefront himself. Just like how he only puts forward that girl.”

“…S-Sister, that girl really seemed to know nothing…”

“You don’t think I’d readily believe the words of someone who ruined everything, do you?”

Rosaline’s eyes turned fierce.

“It doesn’t matter whether that girl is a puppet who knows nothing or a puppet who knows everything.”

She smiled.

“What more is there to wait for now? If Uncle has no intention of coming forward, we’ll have to drag him out.”

Rosaline ground her teeth.

“So let’s just get rid of the pawnshop altogether.”

Before more troublesome things happen.

Rosaline muttered coldly. The frightened Hugo pressed himself even closer to the doorway.

3. Sorry, but who are you again?

“Hello, Doctor!”

“Yes, welcome, Miss Elisha. I’ve prepared the herbs you requested in advance.”

“Thank you as always.”

The doctor who had now become familiar greeted me as I entered the hospital.

When I received the bundle of herbs and handed over the money, he asked cautiously.

“How is the patient’s condition?”

This doctor is one of the few people who knows about Grandfather’s condition.

But even to him, I couldn’t mention that Grandfather was staying at Belcato Nursing Home.

You never know when or where information might leak out.

Anything concerning Grandfather required the utmost caution.

“These days, since I’m working and he can rest peacefully, he seems to be in good spirits. He was even laughing today.”

‘I really hope that’s true.’

When I entrusted Grandfather to the nursing home, I asked them to contact me only when there were significant changes in his condition.

Of course I was curious. I was curious every day and worried every day.

But I was genuinely concerned that if I received letters regularly, the Rionet people might notice.

I spoke with hope in my heart. That Grandfather’s condition would be very, very good today.

“I see… That’s a relief.”

“Yes. Doctor, no one has come asking about me or Grandfather, right?”

“Of course. I also remember that if anyone comes looking, I should make excuses about Miss Elisha’s health.”

“If possible, please mention something that sounds like a serious illness.”

“Haha, yes. I’ll do that.”

I smiled brightly and stood up. I had other things to do besides visiting the hospital.

“Well then, I’ll be going!”

“Ah, Miss Elisha.”

“Yes?”

The doctor who called me back had a complicated expression for a moment.

My heart sank.

“What’s wrong? Is there some problem?”

“…No, it’s nothing serious. The peppermint root I gave you this time is a bit larger than usual. I was worried you might be surprised.”

“Geez, your words surprised me more. It’s fine. I’ll be going!”

“Yes, take care.”

‘What a scare. It was nothing serious.’

I packaged the herbs so they wouldn’t be visible and stopped by the post office to send a parcel.

They said it was a hard-to-find herb, and the nursing home didn’t have peppermint root either, so I had to receive and send it every time, but that much was fine.

I didn’t forget to send it under the pseudonym I had arranged with the nursing home in advance.

“Now shall I go to the magic item shop?”

I needed to buy new self-defense items.

I had left the three-section staff at the auction house in my hurry to get out, and the spray was a useless tool.

After going through complicated alleys to reach the magic item shop, mage Emma in splendid clothes greeted me.

“Hello, Sister Emma! I’m here to buy some magic items.”

Emma was a mage who had worked on Ashen Street for a long time. Therefore, she also had a friendship with Grandfather, who always commissioned security magic from her.

She was one of the few people who welcomed me without suspicion, so I was also glad to see Emma. Moreover, she was skilled too.

“Could you show me tools that can immediately subdue an opponent, not things like sprays? Oh! Something like a whip would be good too. If you have handcuffs or something like that, please show me those too!”

“Ahem, you, from this morning… So your tastes were in that direction…?”

“No, Sister! Not those kinds of things! This isn’t it! For security! For security!”

I had momentarily forgotten that Emma’s specialty was actually love and affair-related magic.

I pushed away the magic items of tremendous appearance in horror and finally selected a few.

Emma, who had been watching me choose, smiled wickedly and asked.

“Sprays would be best for you to use, so why are you insisting on buying something else…? I’m getting the feeling this is just an excuse…?”

Emma winked suggestively and continued with satisfaction.

“As a senior in life, let me advise you that being true to your preferences isn’t a bad thing. It’s good to know early. Yes, indeed.”

“Geez, I told you it’s really not like that. I sprayed the spray and got hit by it myself because of the headwind.”

“Ah, that’s the problem with spray-type magic items. But you sprayed it? Did something happen?”

“A thief came by. I tried to catch him but ended up getting caught myself.”

Emma tilted her head as she listened to the explanation.

“You took the full spray hit? Were you okay?”

“It stung so bad I nearly died. You know how you can’t stop tearing up? I cried for half a day straight—anyone who saw me would’ve thought my house was on fire.”

“It ended in half a day? That stuff usually lasts at least two days.”

“I sprayed some holy water mixed with regular water on my face a few times and it got better?”

“Really…? That magic has such a high concentration that diluted holy water shouldn’t remove it easily.”

“I had drunk tea with holy water the day before—maybe that’s why?”

“Hmm, could be? Divine power isn’t my area of expertise, so I’m not sure. But how did you end up drinking holy water anyway?”

“Right! I finally got to use that ‘worst memory’ spell you set up for me.”

I briefly explained what happened with Hugo. Since I couldn’t call him family, I just said he was a debt collector.

Emma clapped her hands throughout the story, feeling as satisfied as if it were her own victory.

She also readily accepted the role of magical artifact consultant.

“You’re even paying a commission—no reason to refuse. Looking forward to working with you, partner.”

“I should be the one saying that. I think I’ll have a lot of requests for you.”

“Why? Need other security spells?”

“Well, not security spells exactly…”

I scooted closer to sit next to her.

“I have something to ask you about.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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